Radio Update Report (audio) 2-16-10

Air Date:02/16/2010

 
The South Dakota House of Representatives passed a bill that allows students who are home schooled to receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. Currently, South Dakota high school students who take certain courses and receive a 24 on their ACT’s are eligible for the scholarship. House bill 1160 includes home schooled students who score at least a 26 on their ACT’s as well. Representative Thomas Deadrick of Platte says the bill is good for the state. 

"We wanted to encourage people to stay in South Dakota. We wanted to encourage the best and the brightest to stay in South Dakota and I think this bill accomplishes everything that the Opportunity Scholarship originally wanted to do," says Deadrick.
 
Opponents of the bill are concerned that home school courses are not the same quality as traditional high school classes.
 
The House also passed a bill which creates a database to help monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. Representative David Lust is a sponsor of House Bill 1231. He says it prevents crime and addiction, and leads to improved patient care. 
 
"After this bill becomes law, a doctor now has a place where he or she could go to find out if a patient has been abusing the system by doctor shopping and seeking prescription drugs for narcotics from multiple sources," says Lust.
 
Opponents of the bill say it violates citizens’ privacy. The bill now goes to a Senate Committee for further debate.

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